Take a cold shower, Rudd tells media

Former prime minister Kevin Rudd was questioned over his leadership ambitions while attending the service at the Church of St Andrew in Canberra to mark the start of the 2013 Parliamentary year.
Photo: Alex Ellinghausen

Former prime minister Kevin Rudd has sought to calm Labor leadership tensions, urging the media to take a “long, cold shower" ahead of the official opening of parliament for the new year.

“Give us a break," Mr Rudd said when questioned over his leadership ambitions.

“I said 12 months ago that I supported the Prime Minister, I challenged the Prime Minister, that remains my position and everyone should take a very long, cold shower."

Questions over a fresh leadership challenge were raised by an article written by Mr Rudd in Foreign Policy magazine, which deputy opposition leader Julie Bishop has said undermines Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s stance on China.

The warning came after a poll showed support for Labor had slumped following a rough two weeks, and as two senior ministers called for the government to start using Mr Rudd more widely to boost its stocks.

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“What the Prime Minister did yesterday was ask for a united party. This is not unusual for any leader to do, any political party especially in an election year," Ms D’Ath said.

“The leadership issue was dealt with last year. The caucus supported Julia Gilard and that matter is now behind us. Julia Gillard is the leader of the Labor party, she is the PM, she has the support of caucus."

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott called on the Labor Party to “sort their problems out".

“These are not easy times for our country, and many Australians have suffered this summer through natural disasters. They expect a strong and stable government and unfortunately that’s not the perception of things right now in Canberra," Mr Abbott said.

“I do say to the government ... it should stop focusing on itself, this is what the people expect, they want the government to be focused on them rather than its own internal shenanigans."